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Town Hall Meeting raises questions concerning force shaping

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Veronica Montes
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The 92nd Force Support Squadron personnel held town hall meetings Jan. 7 and 9, for enlisted and officer Airmen regarding the new force shaping programs, which will affect more than 700 Airmen across Fairchild.
The Air Force as a whole is planning to downsize by approximately 25,000 Airmen and 550 aircraft during the next five years, with programs both voluntary and involuntary.

For the enlisted force, voluntary separation programs include Active Duty Service Commitment & Time in Grade Waivers, Palace Chase, Temporary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Pay. The involuntary programs include the Date of Separation roll back, Quality Force Review Board and Enlisted Retention Boards.
For the officer force, voluntary separation programs include Active Duty Service Commitment & Time in Grade Waivers, Palace Chase, eight vs. 10-year Commissioned Service Waivers, TERA and VSP. The involuntary programs include Reduction in Force, Force Shaping Board, Enhanced Selective Early Retirement Board and Selective Early Retirement Board.
During the meeting, many questions arose. Below are some of the frequently asked questions provided with answers by the 92nd FSS:

Q: It's has been recommended everyone eligible for the board attend the Transition Goals, Plans and Success course, yet with 700 Airmen affected are they adding more classes?
A: Yes, classes will be doubled from now on, with two sessions a month starting with February and ending in September, and it is mandatory to attend.

Q: Can people separate who have not been selected for a board?
A: No, there is no program for people who are not in targeted Air Force Specialty Codes or grades.

Q: How are the career fields and ranks going to be "racked and stacked' when they go up to the boards?
A: We are not sure, but they will be looking at Enlisted and Officer Performance Reports, decorations, and personal records, as well as Enlisted Retention Recommendation Forms and Retention Recommendation Forms for officers.

Q: What involuntary options do people have who have less than 15 years of service?
A: Only separation pay applies to them.

Q: Is every record going to meet the board?
A: Yes

Q: If you apply for voluntary separation, when do you have to be out by?
A: September 29, 2014.

Q: If someone is on a Medical Evaluation Board and they are selected for separation, what happens?
A: They will continue with the MEB process.

Q: Are special duty applications, retraining packets and permanent change of duty locations being put on hold?
A: Those programs are currently still going on, yet if someone has PCS orders and is selected to be separated the orders will be canceled. If an enlisted Airman is selected for a board before departing for their PCS, the PCS will be cancled until the board decision is made. For officiers selected for a board, PCS will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Q: Since unit commanders put in a write up regarding each Airman, what kind of impact does that have and can it save their job?
A: It has a good impact but it will not guarantee anything regarding their job. Specific guidelines prohibit commanders from the following comments on an Enlisted Retention Recommendation Forms; mention of family activities, promotion comments/recommendations and comments such as "definitely retain". The only comments allowed are those that quantify the abilities of the Airman. Commanders are allowed a maximum of three lines on the Enlisted Retention Recommendation Forms. For Airmen meeting the Enlisted Retention Board, they will be stratified.

Guidelines for the Reduction in Force for line of the Air Force officers, the senior rater may award definitely "retain", "retain", or do not "retain". For line of the Air Force officers-judge advocates the senior rater may award a "retain" or do not "retain". The Promotion recommendations/considerations are prohibited. The Retention Recommendation Form guidelines for the Force Shaping Board, the "definitely retain" block is prohibited

Q: If an Airman is deployed and they are selected for involuntary separation, will they get time after their deployment to out process?
A: They may be sent home early depending on their time left, but will have no less than 30 days to out process.

Q: If a member wants to separate with Palace Chase but doesn't reach this time in service requirement, are their waivers in place?
A: No.

Q: Is there the same issues in other services, and is their programs in place that switching services is an option?
A: The cuts are Department of Defense wide and there are currently no programs in place.

Fairchild leadership stressed that every single Airman will be affected by this, and encourages everyone to understand these programs. More programs will be available as time approaches. More information is available to military on the MyPers website.